Aldro
Aldro is a preparatory school in Shackleford, near Godalming, Surrey, England. It caters for about 240 boys between the ages of 7 and 13. The Good Schools Guide called the school an "Extremely popular and successful traditional prep school," also stating "It is a somewhat eccentric world with some delightfully eccentric teachers, and makes a welcome home for boys of every variety."[1]
History
Aldro was founded at Meads in Eastbourne in 1898 and moved to its present home in 1940.
The oldest buildings on the site were originally part of Hall Place (later known as Shackleford House), built for Edgar Horne, a wealthy company director who was the Member of Parliament MP for South West Surrey from 1910 to 1922 and made a Baronet in 1929.
They were converted by the school during and after the Second World War. A large, timbered barn, for example, became the school chapel, and was consecrated in 1949. It survived a fire in the 1970s. A former workshop next door became the science laboratory, and the estate’s potting shed became a carpentry workshop.
The current Headmaster is David Aston, and the Deputy Head is Chris Rose.
Facilities
The oldest building is thought to be the octagonal cider press, standing close to the main entrance, which has been used as a small museum and as a home for a model railway.
Over the years there have been many new additions to the site. For years the large lake doubled as a swimming pool and as a race course for inter-house rowing competitions. Today there is an open heated swimming pool.
Other more recent facilities include a theatre, an art, design and technology centre, tennis courts and a three -hole golf course. The Centenary Building, opened in 1999, contains a library and new classrooms, and a new dining hall opened in 2003.
Sport
The School prides itself on its academic and sporting achievements, particularly in Football, Rugby, Cricket and Shooting. It also has an impressive record in Chess competitions, with the under 9, 12 and 13 teams all winning national championships in 2004. As for Athletics, in 2005, 2006 and 2007 David Buck was national champion at 1500m. In 2010 Aldro reached the final of the National Rugby Sevens at Rosslyn Park, losing to Millfield. The team was Rupert Dower-Tylee, Henry Mallin, James Bradley, Charlie Tarn (capt), Maxim Smith, James Walker, Ben Harris, Edward Rees, Toby Thomas, Matthew Yiadom and James Whitton.
Notable former pupils
<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- David Hacking, 3rd Baron Hacking, hereditary peer
- Geoffrey Hallowes, Special Operations Executive
- Kim Philby, member of the Cambridge Five
- Ronald Scott-Miller, Conservative Member of Parliament
- Alexander Scrimgeour (1897–1916), Author of "Scrimgeour's Scribbling Diary" who was killed at the Battle of Jutland[2]
- Toby Stephens, actor, who has played Kim Philby in television drama Cambridge Spies
- Lord Wakeham, Conservative peer and former Cabinet member in Thatcher & Major governments
- Tim McMullan, An actor who has been featured in many movies such as "The Woman In Black" and "The Queen"
Notes
- ↑ The Good Schools Guide
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
